Stihl FS130

Both the FS 130 professional brushcutter and the FS 130 R professional trimmer are powered by a 36.3cc displacement STIHL 4-MIX® engine. This large engine offers 30% more power with only 8 ounces more weight than theFS 110.

Summary:
The new 4 stroke on this unit has plenty of torque and a nice sound. Great unit that I highly reccomend.

Strengths:
Well balanced and starts great I am very impressed. I'm using mine to cut brush up to 2" in diameter and it works great! I've heard others say it uses a lot of fuel. I think it's fine. Plenty of power, exceeded my expectations.

Weaknesses:
Harness takes a little time to get adjusted roperly, but not a big deal. I'm probably going to order a second harness so that my wife and I can both use it without the hassle of re-adjusting.

Strengths:
Well balanced and starts great I am very impressed. I'm using mine to cut brush up to 3/4" in diameter and it works great! I've heard others say it uses a lot of fuel. I think it's fine. Plenty of power, exceeded my expectations.

Summary:
I highly recommend the optional Tri Pro Trimmer Head $55.00, the three quick load strings are 1.55, yes 1.55 thick, and this FS-130 cuts these weeds down with no bogging, very powerful motor, can you tell i'm impressed?

Strengths:
Love the Stihl FS-130 with the bicycle handle grip. I can go 40 minutes on full throttle with the 18oz. tank. I have tall weeds about 2 1/2 ft, and i put the optional three string 1.55 cutter on, and i am very impressed, it cuts the weeds down like butter, no bogging down, i also love the harness, it is very comfortable to use as i have a bad back. The price i paid was $429.95 reasonable for what you get. I live up here in the mountains above
Lake Oroville Ca. and i have lot's of projects, so i need the best.

Weaknesses:
None, can't beat a Stihl product, you pay a little more, but it will last a long time.

Used product for 30-Days Purchased From Industrial PowerProducts chico ca

Strengths:
Fs 130 it works the best i had replaced it with my Honda gx 35 eng trimmer . Fs 130 is light in weight extreemly powerful . Honda trimmers is a toy when compared with Stihl trimmer .I finish my work nearly 40% eralier than i use to with ahonda trimmer. You can feel the power when you hold a stihl trimmer.I can work for about 35 to 40 min on full throttel (actually full throttel is not required by a stihl trimmer)

Weaknesses:
costs a little more than a honda . .You forget what you have paid but remember the quality of the product

Summary:
IM LOOKING INTO BUYING A SECOND ONE IN THE SPRING OF 2011 AND HAVE ONE FOR STRING AND ONE FOR BLADE

Strengths:
I HAVE BEEN RUNNING MY FS130 FOR OVER 4 YEARS NOW BUT I HAVE HAD TO PUT 2 SPARK PLUGS IN IT AND A CARB AND 3 FILTERS FOR A TOTAL COST OF LESS THEN 100.00 IN 4+ YEARS. I PROBABLY USE MY FS130 HARDER THEN ANYBODY AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I RUN A BLADE ON MINE THAT CUTS THE GRASS,WEEDS,SMALL TREES AND BIG TREES OF 4" AND SMALLER AND IT WILL CUT THROUGH T-POST, CHAIN LINK FENCE AND THEN BACK TO GRASS WITHOUT CHANGING THE BLADE OUT. I GUESS WHAT IM TRYING TO SAY IS IT THE BEST INVESTMENT THAT I HAVE MADE AND I DO RUN MINE HARD ON FULL THROTTLE FOR HOURS ON END (I CLEAR BRUSH TREES AND GRASS WHERE BRUSH HOGS AND MOWERS CANT GET OR CUT)

Weaknesses:
THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY HERE IS, FOR ALL THOSE WHO WILL BUY THE FS 130 I WOULD SUGGEST LOOSENING THE 2 EXHAUST SCREWS THEN RETIGHTEN THEM BUT NOT AS TIGHT AS STIHL HAS THEM OTHERWISE YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF BUYING A NEW HEAD OR HAVING TO HAVE THE SCREWS MILLED OUT(THE SCREW HEADS HAVE A TENDENCY TO BREAK OFF)

Weaknesses:
Weed guard inadequate, with this much power it leaves you covered in weeds/debris head to toe-needs serious improvement. Do not use choke, 5 pumps on primer bulb-1 pull start everytime. Shoulder strap is clumsy. Expensive $399 price set by Stihl.

Summary:
If you are cutting full grown thistle, multi-flora rose, 3-5 foot weed growth, this machine will meet your needs without using a blade (use commercial .105 line). Always use 91 octane without ethanol with a full synthetic Stihl mix for reliability.

Strengths:
Powerhouse trimmer with gobs of power for serious brush and weeds. Overkill for suburban occasional use homeowner.

Weaknesses:
Stihl TAP HEAD design is flawed unless you know how to string correctly. The far line has to crossover the center ridge without the ability to lock it down until the line reaches the outer edge of the spool. Unless you wind the lines really tight, the far line can easily rewind back into the head under full torque....especially on the bigger, heavier .105 lines, regardless of whether they are round, cube, or pentagon shape. The brand of the line makes no difference IMO, but Stihl will tell you differently. Nonsense.

Summary:
It starts easy, has tons of line capacity, big time power, great accessories, this trimmer is fantastic for heavy duty applications! I've cleared acres of blackberry patches, multi-flora rose and lespedeza with just the .105 line. Area's that resemble grown-up power line r/w with tons of 1 and 2" trees are dealt with quickly and with authority with a metal blade.
I'd rather use this thing than going to the gym for a workout. It is actually fun to use!

Strengths:
POWER!!! This thing eats whatever you put in front of it. It's easy to operate and with a brush blade or saw blade it is nearly un-stopable. It's light-weight for having this much power.

Summary:
This is my my first Stihl trimmer, and I was truly shocked by the amount of power that it has! I have been using a Stihl Polycut head on it in the larger and more open areas of my land and that seems to be a good choice. This is a machine, not like the lawn tools you purchase at Sears or Wal-mart.

Strengths:
Power. Power, and more power!!!The four-stroke engine has an unbelievable amount of torque, but be careful of things that will cause a kick-back!

Weaknesses:
It's not really a weakness, but it does go through a lot of line and fuel, but a lot of work gets done in the time it is running so it is actually very efficient.

Summary:
I bought a shindaiwa c270 in 1991 and when I compare with my new one stihl fs130 there are no comparision, period. Shindaiwa in overall is insane performance from start no matter the situation to the easy to setup.

Strengths:
high torque at low RPM

Weaknesses:
Sometimes are very difficult to start up after used for a long period. Note(valves are adjust to factory recomendations)

Summary:
I would not buy another one and I am looking for another trimmer because this one is a pain to use. It does blow through heavy weeds in ditches if the string doesn't break first.

Strengths:
Very powerful when running full speed.

Weaknesses:
It's Heavy. The string head is terrible. It's hard to load and the string breaks off inside the head constantly. The valves need adjusted regularly. You have to mix oil even though it's a 4 stroke. Did I mention it's heavy and the string breaks constantly.

Summary:
Done with over priced Orange trash. $500.00 USD for 14 days of use.

Strengths:
Great for clearing ditches, I cleared 400' twice a year for 7 years. Pluse the edges of the garden. Tri arch blade cuts 1/2 to 3/4 inch brush.

Weaknesses:
To heavy for the wife, And the motor blew up..
Mind you I used it twice a year for 7 years clean and stored indoors with no gas I the off months,
After disassembling the motor to discover the cause of failure the nylon valve cam gear was full of sheet metal reed valves. And the aluminum shaft bearing surface was damaged beyond repair.